Experimental irritant contact dermatitis due to cumulative epicutaneous exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate and toluene: single and concurrent application
W. Wigger-alberti et al., Experimental irritant contact dermatitis due to cumulative epicutaneous exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate and toluene: single and concurrent application, BR J DERM, 143(3), 2000, pp. 551-556
In clinical practice, cutaneous exposure to a variety of irritants such as
surfactants and solvents is frequent. Although the induction of irritant de
rmatitis by single irritants has been extensively studied in recent years,
our knowledge of the effects of simultaneous application of different irrit
ants is limited. Using non-invasive techniques for measurements of transepi
dermal water loss (TEWL) and skin colour reflectance, we quantified the irr
itant effects of single and concurrent application of 0 . 5% sodium lauryl
sulphate (SLS) and undiluted toluene (TOL) in vivo. The irritants were appl
ied twice daily for 30 min to the volar forearms of 20 volunteers. Repeated
application of SLS and TOL induced an irritant reaction, as indicated by a
n increase in TEWL and skin redness. In contrast to SLS alone, the applicat
ion of TOL alone induced only a moderate increase in TEWL, confirming previ
ous results. Concurrent application of SLS/TOL and TOL/SLS induced signific
antly stronger reactions than those caused by twice daily application of ea
ch irritant on its own. Our results demonstrate that a mixed application of
an anionic detergent and an organic solvent has an additive effect on skin
irritation. It is suggested that pretreatment with SLS causes an increased
susceptibility to TOL irritation and vice versa. Thus, the necessity for s
pecial precautions against skin absorption of TOL when handling detergents
such as SLS is emphasized.